Good, Bad, Ugly

The film, "The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly" (Leone, 1966) opens with an extreme long shot with immense depth of field of the barren desert in which the film takes place. The director, Leone, chooses to open his film with this shot in order to set up the location, and to allude to the utter scope of the entire film. Additionally, the shot suggests a sense of loneliness and alienation, as the film takes place in a vast desert with villains and no escape. Without cutting the camera, Leone transitions from this extreme long shot to a close up/ extreme close up as the character steps into frame. In this close up, Leone shoots his character at eye-level, to suggest a neutrality and relatability with the audience and the character. This shot is followed by another extreme long shot, as two figures begin to emerge from the horizon. Immediately, the scene becomes foreboding, as the two men emerge on horses and begin to confront the lone man. The tension continues to build, and Leone continues to use the close ups and long shots. As the two men continue closer to the other man, Leone elects to use a medium shot. Here, the shot alludes to the two characters' relationship, possibly as friends. This scene is also filmed at a low angle to suggest a sense of power for the two men. Clearly they are armed and prepared for a good old western showdown.